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vsp · 04-15-2002, 11:55 AM

I have a new addiction, with a second new addiction sitting in the on-deck circle.

The on-deck addiction is Freedom Force (for PC). The reviews have been great, the documentation is promising, and I just haven't had time to install it yet because I know I won't do anything else for a while. (I do that a lot with games.)

The current addition is Virtua Fighter 4 (for PS2). I've owned VF2 (Saturn) and VF3tb (Dreamcast) in the past, so I'm no stranger to the gameplay, but this one is far superior in several areas:

* Two new characters, each of which is very interesting in design. The sumo (Taka-arashi) from VF3 is gone, which is also a plus.

* Kumite mode is fascinating. It's like being in a Japanese arcade -- you create a ring-name for your favorite character, then face off against a nearly endless stream of opponents with varying skill levels, earning rankings and special (costume) items along the way. Absolute fun, and a perfect way to measure your skill level with your character du jour.

* But AI mode is even better. In this mode, you create a CPU-controlled sparring partner who's a tabula rasa; he or she has no moves, no strategies and no skills. You train the AI by sparring against it (teaching it new moves and techniques), showing it replays and critiquing performance (hitting O to reinforce good moves/trends, X to scold bad techniques and strategies), and acting as his/her coach during live fights (again, O/X to promote or rebuke accordingly). You don't have to be a master to train a master (though it helps, of course). This is a wonderful new dimension for fighting games, and one I'd love to see repeated elsewhere -- even if I am beating my head on the wall occasionally, trying to get my Lion AI to break out of some bad habits.

Best... fighter... ever.

04-15-2002, 11:55 AM	#15
vsp Syndrome of a Down Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: West Chester Posts: 1,367	So much for free time. I have a new addiction, with a second new addiction sitting in the on-deck circle. The on-deck addiction is Freedom Force (for PC). The reviews have been great, the documentation is promising, and I just haven't had time to install it yet because I know I won't do anything else for a while. (I do that a lot with games.) The current addition is Virtua Fighter 4 (for PS2). I've owned VF2 (Saturn) and VF3tb (Dreamcast) in the past, so I'm no stranger to the gameplay, but this one is far superior in several areas: * Two new characters, each of which is very interesting in design. The sumo (Taka-arashi) from VF3 is gone, which is also a plus. * Kumite mode is fascinating. It's like being in a Japanese arcade -- you create a ring-name for your favorite character, then face off against a nearly endless stream of opponents with varying skill levels, earning rankings and special (costume) items along the way. Absolute fun, and a perfect way to measure your skill level with your character du jour. * But AI mode is even better. In this mode, you create a CPU-controlled sparring partner who's a tabula rasa; he or she has no moves, no strategies and no skills. You train the AI by sparring against it (teaching it new moves and techniques), showing it replays and critiquing performance (hitting O to reinforce good moves/trends, X to scold bad techniques and strategies), and acting as his/her coach during live fights (again, O/X to promote or rebuke accordingly). You don't have to be a master to train a master (though it helps, of course). This is a wonderful new dimension for fighting games, and one I'd love to see repeated elsewhere -- even if I am beating my head on the wall occasionally, trying to get my Lion AI to break out of some bad habits. Best... fighter... ever.